From a small city with an underdeveloped economy, Da Nang has made several breakthroughs and turned itself into one of Viet Nam’s most livable cities since the Politburo issued a resolution on its development 15 years ago.

An aerial view of Da Nang city at night

In November 1996, the province of Quang Nam-Da Nang was separated into Da Nang city and Quang Nam province.

On October 16, 2003, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 33 on the building and development of Da Nang city during the national industrialisation and modernisation period.

Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Truong Quang Nghia said shortly after the issuance, the city’s authorities issued detailed documents and built action plans to implement Resolution No. 33.

Over the last 15 years, the city has recorded comprehensive socio-economic development and obtained many important achievements, he noted.

The gross regional domestic product (GRDP) has increased by about 10 percent annually in the five years between 2013 and 2018 – with estimations of 63.96 trillion VND (2.8 billion USD) this year, 4.2 times higher than in 2003. Per capita GRDP is expected at 82.8 million VND (3,677 USD) in 2018, rising seven-fold from 2003 and 1.45 times higher than the national average.

Aside from economic development, Da Nang has also paid attention to ensuring social security. The city now has over 5,400 patient beds, equivalent to 79.17 beds per 10,000 people, and 17.4 doctors per 10,000 people. About 96.5 percent of the local population have been covered by health insurance, rising by 2.9 times since 2003.

Mr Nghia added that Da Nang has almost fulfilled the goals of a city without poor households. It has also achieved certain outcomes in efforts to eradicate issues such as homelessness and street-begging, drug addiction, and murder for robbery.

Meanwhile, many large, modern structures have now been completed and put into use, becoming architectural highlights of the city. Technical and social infrastructure has developed rather synchronously, helping to expand the urban space by over three times since its size 15 years ago, creating an image of a civilised and modern port city.

My Khe beach - a popular tourist attraction in Da Nang

Da Nang is also one of the prime examples of tourism development over the last two decades, according to Deputy General Director of the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu.

He said local tourism has broken many records with the surging numbers of domestic and foreign tourists, as well as the continuously diversified tourism services and products. The industry has greatly contributed to economic restructuring, investment attraction, job creation, and the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values.

At a working session with municipal authorities in last month, Nguyen Van Binh, Politburo member and Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, said Resolution No. 33 is considered as the committee’s most important decision regarding Da Nang.

In the 15 years of resolution implementation, Da Nang has achieved a number of outstanding successes, including relatively comprehensive socio-economic development and effective economic restructuring.

Mr Binh noted that the city has gradually established itself as an important national and international transport gateway, a socio-economic centre, and a growth locomotive of the central and Central Highlands regions. It has also set an example of how to better integrate into the world.

To build on existing attainments, Da Nang has set up tasks to further promote local development. Accordingly, it is pushing ahead with fast and sustainable socio-economic expansion and economic restructuring. Economic development will be based on the three pillars of services, high-tech industry, and sea-based economy.

It will also pay more attention to Party building; improving leadership capacity and the strength of Party organisations, along with the quality of officials and Party members in the administration; promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of the State’s management activities; and seeking a suitable administration model.

The city has asked the Politburo to consider issuing a resolution on building and developing Da Nang until 2030, with a vision towards 2045. It has also called for special mechanisms and policies to be provided for the city, and obstacles in legal documents to be removed to help with its development.

With its own efforts, central agencies’ support and people’s consensus, Da Nang is striving to become an ecological and smart city with modern technical and social infrastructure by 2030. It also looks to become a dynamic port city, a transit point, and an economic, IT, and educational and medical hub of the region, while also playing a major role in ensuring defence-security and firmly protecting the national marine sovereignty.

(Source: VNA/ DA NANG Today)